Module description
Exploring the nature of myth, this module asks where we see myths being created and retold in the modern era and why a form that is often considered to be ancient still has such prominence today. We will read a range of modern mythic narratives, from the Caribbean to Japan, from the United States to the UK, considering how and why myth takes shape in twentieth- and twenty-first-century literature. Examining the modern reception of ancient myths from Greek and Yoruba culture and delving into the creation of new mythic tales in graphic novels and performance poetry, we will ask questions about what makes a text mythic and explore the ways in which myth continues to be used to address and think through very contemporary concerns.
Assessment details
500-word media pitch (15%); 3-hour unseen written examination (85%).
Reassessment: all reassessment for this module will take the form of coursework. The exam element will be replaced with two 1750-word essays.
Educational aims & objectives
This module aims to:
- Introduce students to the range of mythic narratives created in the modern era
- Explore why myth has such prominence today
- Enhance students' comparative analytical and critical skills, as we examine works in a range of genres from around the world
- Develop students' understanding of, and critical engagement with, the fields of comparative mythology and reception studies
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate their ability to:
- Critically analyse contemporary literature, considering it both within its own context and in relation to other works, both past and present
- Articulate a detailed knowledge of modern myths and the contemporary reception of ancient myth
- Engage with literature from around the globe, being attentive to the specific and varied cultural contexts in which it is created
- Evaluate theories of comparative mythology, reception theory, and orality
- Develop independent reflections on mythology and modern literature, informed by an analytical grasp of key concepts of mythmaking at an abstract level
Teaching pattern
One-hour lecture and one-hour seminar weekly
Suggested reading list
The following books provide a good introduction to some of the themes of the module:
- Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: Pantheon Books, 1949.
- Roberto González Echevarría, Myth and Archive: A Theory of Latin American Narrative. Durham & London: Duke University Press, 1998.
- Linda Hutcheon with Siobhan O'Flynn, A Theory of Adaptation. 2nd ed. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013.
- Wole Soyinka, Myth, Literature and the African World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976.